Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Special Education

About Western Kentucky University:

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16,293 students and nearly 2,612 faculty and staff employees.  
 
Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our ever-evolving communities.  
 
Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.  
 
Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU's strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about.

The School of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University is accepting applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-eligible faculty appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor of Special Education. 

The School of Teacher Education (STE) is a national leader in teacher preparation As the first educator preparation program in the State with a licensed teacher apprenticeship program, STE works closely with school districts through traditional face-to-face teaching and innovative Grow Your Own programming to develop highly prepared teachers. Administration and operation of undergraduate and graduate programs in special education are included within the portfolio of the School of Teacher Education. Special education faculty work collaboratively to maintain the rigor of the programs and foster community engagement to provide students with opportunities to impact their communities.

Job Description:

Responsibilities for this position include:

• Teach special education courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using in-person, online, and hybrid delivery
• Provide effective leadership and supervision of clinical experiences
• Conduct research and scholarly activities
• Work collaboratively with other faculty to develop and implement effective programs
• Serve on university, college, department, and program committees
• Serve as faculty advisor to undergraduate and graduate students
• Support student engagement in community activities

Requirements:

• Earned doctorate in special education
• Established (Associate and Professor) or emerging (Assistant) record of research in special education with potential for attracting external funding
• Experience teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools
• Additional requirements for each rank are as follows:  
  • Assistant Professor: Candidate is expected to demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching and have an active and productive program of scholarly research.  
  • Associate Professor: Candidate must have 6+ years experience in higher education, demonstrate excellence in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, evidence of sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and a record of service to the institution and profession.  
  • Full Professor: Candidate must have earned tenure at another institution, have 12+ years experience in higher education, demonstrate excellence in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, evidence of sustained scholarly activity including publications and presentations, and a record of service to the institution and profession.

Additional Information:

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270-745-5121 for assistance. To report concerns related to WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040 and/or WKU's Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy, No. 0.2070, please complete the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX, including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options,  is available on WKU's Title IX website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: https://www.wku.edu/academics/

For information related to job postings, application status, or the hiring process, please email [email protected].

Application Instructions:

The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system by November 27, 2026, although expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications
• Curriculum Vita
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Teaching Statement (two page maximum)
• Research Statement (two page maximum)
• Reprints or preprints of a scholarly article

Names and contact information of three reference providers will be collected during the application process. Reference letters will be requested by the Search Committee through an online process at a later date. For more information, please contact the Search Chair, Dr. Janet Tassell at [email protected] or 270-745-5306.

You will receive email confirmation once you have successfully completed the application process.